Gymnasts call congressional action to prevent abuse a turning point in history

Several former gymnasts who were abused by sports doctor Larry Nassar spoke on Capitol Hill Tuesday in support of legislation that requires governing bodies for amateur athletics to promptly report abuse claims to law enforcement. (Jan. 30)
AP

U.S. Olympics gold medalist Dominique Moceanu speaks during a news conference to discuss new legislation to protect athletes with (2nd L-R) Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and fellow gymnasts Jeanette Antolin, Jamie Dantzscher and Mattie Larson in the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill January 30, 2018 in Washington, DC. Along with the gymnasts, all of whom are survivors of sexual abuse at the hands of coaches or trainers, the members of Congress were confident that the legislation would pass and "require amateur athletics governing bodies to immediately report sex-abuse allegations to law enforcement and strengthen oversight of gymnasiums, amateur sports organizations, and coaches."(Photo11: Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images)

WASHINGTON —– Former top gymnasts who have spoken out about the sexual or psychological abuse they sufferedat the hands of officials with the sport's national organization said Tuesday the passage of legislation to prevent future abuse marks a turning point in the history of sports.

“It’s been a long time coming to finally see this day,” Olympic gold medalist Dominique Moceanu said at a Capitol Hill news conference.

On Monday, the House passed the legislation, and the Senate passed the bill by voice vote Tuesday afternoon. It's now headed to President Trump's desk for his expected signature.

“We as women do work together, we can work together on important issues facing the country,” said Rep. Susan Brooks, the Indiana Republican who sponsored the House version of the bill. “And nothing became more obvious to me then when I read in The Indianapolis Star what had happened to these gymnasts.”

The bill is a response to a sex abuse scandal in USA Gymnastics uncovered by IndyStar, but it applies to all amateur athletes.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the lead Senate sponsor of the legislation, said the bill will fix a patchwork of state reporting rules by requiring adults who interact with amateur athletes to report suspected child abuse, including sexual abuse, within 24 hours to local law enforcement.

She also emphasized that the statute of limitations on abuse will not begin until the victim realizes she has been abused. That’s particularly important for young victims, Feinstein said.

“They didn’t know what happened to them was sexual until later in life,” she said.

Women who spoke out about former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar said it took years for them to realize what Nassar was doing to them. Nassar pleaded guilty in November to seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and was sentenced last week to up to 175 years in prison after 156 women and girls made victim-impact statements over seven days about the abuse and anguish he caused them.

Almost exactly a year ago, Feinstein met with eight of the women who had been abused by Nassar.

“The minute I walked in the room, I knew something was different, and something was very wrong,” Feinstein said. “I saw paralyzed faces … and women that were almost shaking at the table.”

The meeting made clear, Feinstein said, that USA Gymnastics “was fostering a culture that put money and medals first, far ahead of the safety and well-being of athletes.”

The president of USA Gymnastics resigned last year amid the IndyStar investigation that uncovered widespread, decades-long problems with the organization's handling of sexual abuse complaints. Three other top executives resigned this month, as did the president of Michigan State University where Nassar worked.

Moceanu has said she wasn't aware of the sexual abuse, but she thinks the psychological abuse she experienced and witnessed helped pave the way for Nassar's crimes. She told IndyStar that no one wanted to listen when she spoke about verbal and emotional abuse at the Karolyi Ranch.

Jeanette Antolin, a former Team USA gymnast who was among those who met with Feinstein last year, said there’s still work to be one. Antolin wants an investigation into how USA Gymnastics, the United States Olympic Committee and Michigan State could let “such heinous crimes…go under the radar for 20 years.”

Brooks said the House Energy and Commerce Committee is planning a hearing to investigate how those bodies allowed the abuse to happen.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican who heads the Senate Judiciary Committee, said his panel will make sure the legislation is implemented as intended.